New Training courses added

We have added a number of new courses we can now offer you. Please see the list below for details:

• Cable Dectection Awareness - 1/2 day


• COSHH Awareness 1/2 day course


• CPCS Crusher Technical Exam Preparation Course + Practical session - 1 day


• Disability Awareness - 1 day course


• Equal Opportunities & Diversity - 1 day course


• Fire Safety Awareness - 1/2 day course


• Ladder Safety - 1/2 day course


• RPE (Respiratory Protective Equipment) Regulations & Employer Responsibilities (Fit Testing) PART 1


• RPE (Respiratory Protective Equipment) Employee Awareness & Fit Test PART 2


• Supervising Health & Safety (3 day course)

For more information please contact Harpreet on 0121 270 0865 or harpreet@demolishdismantle.co.uk

Another CDM-C appointment for C&D Consultancy

C&D Consultancy are pleased to announce their appointment as CDM Co-ordinators to Japanese company Denso for the plant closure and relocation works, at their Minworth site.

John Woodward will be involved in the CDM-C role on the contract and will have a presence on site for 3 months from January 2009.

This contract follows the recent awards of additional CDM-C work for Technical Demolition Services Ltd on their tower block demolition contract for Glasgow Housing Association, and the CDM-C role on demolition works at Outokumpu Stainless Steel in Sheffield.

A day in the life of John Woodward

As Demolition News are reporting, the Winter 2008 edition of the magazine Demolition and Dismantling is now available. This is the magazine produced by the National Federation of Demolition Contractors.

On page 42 John Woodward has written a piece about a typical day on the job. If you would like to learn about John's love of bacon sandwiches, the 5am daily wake up, or the tasks involved in a site visit, then load up page 42 of the magazine and have a read.

Alternatively you can view the full magazine here.

HSC urges use of free Health & Safety guide

The Health and Safety Executive is urging the use of a freely available guide entitled "Leading health and safety at work".

The guide was created under the guidance of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), Local Government Association (LGA), National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), NHS Confederation, Trades Union Congress (TUC) and Warwick Law School, University of Warwick.

It's purpose is to offer a practical guide to health and safety in the workplace. The Head of HSE's Business Involvement Unit, Tony Bandle, commented:

We know that these are trying times for businesses, their suppliers and customers. Whilst it’s pleasing to see 25% of businesses know about this publication I would urge other industry leaders to take advantage of this free publication that is written by business people for business people.

You can download the guide here.

Thoughts on 2009 from John

At the very end of last year Demolition News asked some of the leaders in the demolition industry for their thoughts on the year ahead. The respondents included Michael R. Taylor, Executive Director of the National Demolition Association, and our own John Woodward.

John's response is included below:

During 2009, I would like to see:

• The IDE develop a route, via the NVQ system, to ensure that the older IDE enrolled members, who are apprehensive of the entrance exam, become full members of the only institute in the World that promotes the science and skills of demolition engineering.


• More government funding to develop demolition operatives at “grass roots” level and encourage people to enter the demolition industry via college courses. At present in the Midlands courses are available to allow school leavers to become “nail technicians” and “hair stylists” but not to become demolition operatives. ConstructionSkills run courses at Bircham Newton but places are for those who already have a job placement rather than school leavers.


• Banks realising that small businesses of 2009 can become major employers in 2012 and help from time to time as required. Many businesses need short term funding to assist with cashflow rather than loans secured against property holdings. A more flexible approach will pay dividends in the long term.


• The HSE prosecuting a couple of “big name” developers for the consistent failure to appoint CDM-C’s on time (or at all) for demolition projects. The best way to move CDM forward is to make examples of those who should know better.


• The demolition industry to continue, via the NDTG, to train our workforce and managers to ensure that the deaths and major injury incidence continues to fall.


• The industry continueing to lead the way with recycling of products such as blown foam composite panels, plasterboard and UPVC, and that guidance is published quickly to provide advice as to how to deal with these issues.

From a more personal standpoint, I would like:

• Wolves to win promotion to the Premier League (as Champions) and then to be able to stay there rather than go straight back down like they did last time.


• To spend more time coarse fishing and to catch increasingly bigger carp.


• To lose the weight I put on over Xmas, and then to keep it off as I will soon need to change my car to a low loader to move around the country!


• To spend more time with my wife Jill doing the things we both like to do.

You can view the full article over at Demolition News.